BOULDER — With gravity-defying moves and a career-best 36 points, Colorado sophomore guard Alec Burks must have made a statement Saturday to NBA scouts in leading the Buffaloes to their first victory over a top-10 team in eight years — an 89-76 win over ninth-ranked Missouri in a Big 12 opener.

But what did it mean for the entire Colorado program? More important, what will be the impact from this point forward?

“Some people might have said we had earned respect in past years because we were in almost every game,” CU senior guard Cory Higgins said. “But that doesn’t matter; you have to win. I’m glad we took a huge step and maybe opened people’s eyes in the Big 12.”

Colorado first-year coach Tad Boyle hopes there will come a day when a Buffs victory like this won’t be considered an upset, at least not an epic one. The last CU victory over a top-10 team had been 93-80 over No. 3 Texas on Feb. 4, 2003 here.

This afternoon was different. Colorado shot 47.8 percent from the field, outrebounded Missouri’s slew of jumping jacks 47-31 and got a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds from the 6-foot-5 Higgins. Colorado managed to attack Missouri’s full-court press while taking care of the basketball. The Buffs committed just 10 turnovers.

Colorado (12-4, 1-0) looked like it belonged. It defeated a top-10 team for the first time in 20 meetings.

“Today is the way we want Saturdays to be in the Coors Events Center on January and February for the Colorado basketball program for years to come,” Boyle said.

“Belief is a big thing. I know I believed coming into the game that we could beat Missouri. You try to convey that to your players. But until you get in those situations you don’t know. I thought our guys handled it well.”

Colorado led for almost the entire game — except for the opening three minutes and then late in the first half when a 3-pointer by junior guard Marcus Denmon capped a 12-2 run to put the Tigers up 32-31. A fall-away jumper by Burks along the baseline put the Buffs back up and ignited a 15-2 tear to finish the first half.

Previous Colorado teams appeared to run away from Missouri’s press. Boyle, who coaches an up-tempo style, had convinced his players that they could take advantage of the Tigers” baseline-to-baseline pressure by breaking free for easy baskets. CU’s spacing was excellent. Its ballhandlers were rarely trapped.

“Missouri tries to get you on your heels,” Boyle said. “You have to make good decisions against that.”

Burks, who entered the game averaging 19.1 points, looked as free and relaxed as if he were back on the playgrounds trying to beat fellow Kansas City, Mo., natives Denmon and Missouri sophomore Michael Dixon (team-high 17 points) off the dribble.

Missouri did not recruit Burks, but the springy 6-6 guard dismissed any revenge motive, saying he did not grow up a fan of Missouri or of any particular team.

“The only thing important to me is that we beat a top-10 team,” Burks said.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.